Feeding-machine



No. 6|7,|5l. Patented Jan. 3, I899. H. P. FEISTER.

FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1696.\

2 Sheets-Shet (No Model.)

1 I 1 I I I I I l l I l ll 1 I v I 1 I l u r I I l I 1| 1 1 l r t l 4 l l 4 l x I Witnesses Attorney.

No. 6l7,l5l. Patented Jan. 3, I889.

H. P. FEISTER. FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1896.) (N0 Moda'l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Atorney.

IINr'rE ATE HENRY P. FEISTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,151, dated January 3, 1899. Application filed August 20, 1896- Serial No. 603,355. (No model.)

To all whom it nutty concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY P. FEIsTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Feeding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to mechanism for feeding and delivering articles such as cigarette boxes; and it consists of the improvements which are fully set forth and claimed hereinafter and which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

WVhile my improved feeding and delivering mechanism is adapted for feeding, delivering, and boxing articles of various kinds, it is especially adapted for feeding, delivering, and boxing small cardboard boxes such as are used for cigarettes, and in illustrating my in vention I have shown the machine as especially adapted for that purpose.

It is one of the objects of my invention to enable the cardboard boxes or other articles to be delivered from a pile, taken by feeding devices, and discharged thereby in an upright position upon a support from which they may pass into a box, and part of my improvements relate to the employment of means for holding the cardboard boxes in an upright position when they are discharged by the feeding devices upon the support which receives them, and my invention also embraces devices for supporting the boxes and maintaining them in an upright position while they are being fed into the box which receives them.

Another part of my invention relates to the employment of mechanism whereby hollow cardboard-box blanks'in the form of long strips or pieces may,be delivered, cut into short box lengths, and taken by feeding devices and delivered to a support from which they may pass into boxes.

It is also an object of my invention to enable the machine to be automatically stopped when a box has been filled with the cigaretteboxes or articles fed to it.

My invention also includes improvements in the delivering devices for delivering the articles to the feeding mechanism, in the feeding and cutting devices, and in the receiving and boxing mechanism.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a machine embodying my invention with the upper cutters removed. Fig. 2 is adetail' elevation of part of the cutting and feeding devices. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a machine embodying myinvention, taken on the line 00 cc of Fig. 1, but including the .upper cutters. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a partially-filled box. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the filled box. Fig. 6 is a front View of the automatic stop-motion devices to bring the machine to a stop when the box is filled.

A is the main frame of the machine, having a recess a, adapted to receive and support a box B, the front end of which is open, as at I).

0 is a guideway or hopper at the back of the machine,adapted to receive apile of cards, boxes, or other articles, below the open end of which is located a table D, substantially in line with the feeding disks or devices E. The guideway or hopper C is preferably an open box mounted above the table D, and when the cards or boxes to be fed from it consist of long blanks to be out into shorter lengths it is suitably elongated, as shown in the drawings. The back 0" of the hopper may be movable to permit the hopper to be filled. I have shown it hinged, as at c.

O is a plunger or weight which may be used to rest on the top of the pile of cards or articles and press them down upon the table D.

Suitable mechanism is employed for feeding the lowermost card, box, or other article from the pile over the table D to the feeding disks or devices E. As shown, this mechanism consists of a series of feeding-fingers F, projecting upward and moving through slots (1 in the table D. These fingers Fare shown carried by a cross-bar F under the table and projected upward by springs f. They project above the table D when moving forward just sufficiently to take the lowermost card,

box, or article from the hopper O and move it forward over the table D.

' F are links, engaging the cross-bar F at one end and hinged at the other end to arms F of ashaft g, journaled in slides g, movable in horizontal ways in the framework. The

. slides g are connected by links 0 with cranks G on a cam-shaft g which is journaled in suitable bearings g in the frame A under the table D.

Carried by the shaft g are cams G, which act upon extensions F of the cross-frame F and sustain the frame and the fingers F, carried by it. The enlarged portions of the cams G, acting upon the extensions F hold the frame F in an elevated position with the fingers F, projecting through the slots d, and when the lower parts of the cams act upon the extensions F the frame F drops slightly, so that the fingers F cease to project through the table.

In Fig. 3 the parts are shown in their extreme rearmost position, with the frame F retracted and elevated by the high parts of the cams G, so that the fingers F project upward through the slots 01 in the table at the rear of the pile of cards or boxes. As the shaft 9 rotates the cranks G acting on the links G, move the slides g forward, together with the shaft 9, which they carry, and through the arms F and links F the frame F and its fingers F are moved forward, the fingers F being maintained in an elevated position by the cams G, so that they will engage the edge of the lowermost card or box from the holder 0 and carry it forward over the table D to the disks E. On the return movement the slides g are moved back, and through the shaft g, arms F and links F the frame F and fingers are moved back. During this operation the elevated parts of the cams G have passed from under the ex tension F and the frame F drops upon the lower portions of the cams, so that the fingers F do not project above the table.

The gripping devices which I prefer to employ for taking the articles from the table D and delivering them to the boxes B consist of disks E, carried on a shaft 6 and provided with grippers E, carried on a longitudinal shaft 6, journaled in the disks. A spring h on the shaft e normally holds the shaft turned with the grippers closed. H is an arm on the shaft 6, (which may be provided with the usual rollers h,) adapted to be struck by stationary cams I I to rock the shaft 6 and open the grippers. The cam I is so disposed that it will hold open the grippers when the cards, boxes, or other articles are fed to them and will then release them and permit them to close. The cam I is so disposed that it will open the grippers at the instant the point of discharge is reached, so as to release the card or box and permit it to pass to the box 13. I have shown the frame which supports the box B provided with a lip or projection I), which projects beyond the periphery of the disk E. In practice when a series of disks E are employed the front edge of the lip is provided with notches to receive the disks. As the card or box is carried by the disk it will strike this projection or lip b, and at this instant it is released by the gripper E, which is operated by the cam I.

It will be observed that the table A, which supports the box, B, is located at a lower level than the table D, the former being so disposed that approximately a quadrant of the periphery of this disk E intervenes between the delivery-point to the grippers and the discharge-point to the box. Consequently the cards or boxes which are taken from the holder 0 and fed over the table D in a horizontal position will be discharged into the box B in an upright position. (See Fig. 3.) The lip 12 is slightly raised, so that it will be on a level with the bottom of the box, as shown in Fig. 3, in order that the cards or paper boxes may pass freely over the lip into the box B.

J is a brush arranged over the table D and adapted to maintain the objects which are moved over the table D flat and to prevent more than a single card or paper box being moved at a time, since if two cards or boxes should be moved from the pile the brush would act upon the upper one and retard it, while permitting the lower one to move freely forward. I have shown this brush supported with provision for adjustment to and from the table D by means of adjusting-screws J, passing through lugs j on the holder E and engaging shoes j on the brush.

K is a brush disposed over the open end of the box B and the lip Z), under which the cards or paper boxes are discharged in an upright position. This brush acts to engage the upper edges of the cards or boxes, and thus maintains them in an upright position. I have shown the brush K carried by a crossbar K, to which it is connected by screws 70. The brush K may be adjusted vertically, if desired.

L is a plunger or false end in the box B, which moves forward therein as the cards or paper boxes are introduced. This plunger occupies a vertical position in the box B and moves freely over the bottom. It may be maintained in an upright position and guided in its movements by means of horizontal guidebars L, carried by it and resting upon the top of the frame A or guide extensions thereof.

As it is desirable to employ a long card or box-blank and to cut it up into the proper short length in the machine, I prefer to employ cutting devices for cutting the blanks into the short lengths. For this purpose I provide the shaft e with a series of diskshaped cutters M, acting in conjunction with a corresponding series of cutters N on a shaft n, journaled above the shaft 6. As the long blanks are gripped by the grippers E and carried forward they will be out into short lengths by the cutters M and N.

Power is distributed to the different parts of the machine by suitable gearing and connections. I have shown the cam-shaft e as the power-shaft, receiving power through a pulley O. The upper cutter-shaft n is driven from the shaft 6 by gears O 0 The shaft 9, which operates the feeding-fingers I is driven from the shaft 6 through the gears O, P, and the intermediate gears P.

It is desirable in a machine of this kind that automatic stop-motion devices should be employed to bring the mechanism to a stop when the box B is filled. For this purpose I employ the following mechanism:

Q is a transverse shaft journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A and driven from the gear 0 on the power-shaft e by the gear Q on the shaft Q and the intermediate gear Q.

R is a worm on the shaft Q, which drives a worm-wheel S on a short longitudinal shaft '0", journaled in brackets r 011 the frame A.

S is a trip carried by the shaft 0' and adapted to strike the nose t of a clutch-shifting lever t, which is pivoted on'a suitable bracket i and operates a clutch T, feathered on the shaft 6. \Vhen the trip S strikes the nose tof the lever '1, it rocks the lever and throws the clutch T out of engagement with the pulley 0, thus disconnecting the shaft 6 and bringing the machine to a standstill. To start the machine again, the clutch is thrown back by hand or by a suitable shifting-lever.

As the shaft 7' is operated by a worm and worm-wheel, it moves slowly, and the parts are so proportioned that one revolution of the shaft 0 will take place during the time required to fill a box B, so that the machine will automatically stop when a box has been filled.

The details of construction shown may be varied without departing from the invention.

The following is the mode of operation of the machine: The cards or paper-box blanks in long strips are placed in a pile in the hopper 0, and the weight or plunger 0 is applied, pressing the lowermost strip upon the table D. A box B is placed in the recess A with the false end L advanced toward the open end. Power is then applied, and the frame F and fingers F are moved forward in the manner described, with the fingers elevated through the slots cl by the cams G. The fingers F act upon the rear edge of the lowermost strip and push it forward over the table and under the brush J to the feeding devices E. When the strip reaches the edge of the table D, it is seized-by the grippers E (which have been operated by the spring h and cam I in the manner described) and is carried forward, passing between the cutters M N and being severed thereby into a series of short lengths. \Vhen the short box lengths reach the edge Z), they are released by grippers E, through the action of the cam I, and remain upon the lip b in an upright position, being maintained upright by the action of the brush K upon their upperedges. Meanwhile another strip is being taken from the holder 0, which is in turn seized by the grippers E, cut, and delivered to the lip b behind the first series of boxes. In this way series of rows of paper boxes or cards are delivered to the lip Z2, those in the rear pushing those in first forward against the false end L, which is gradually moved forward until the box is filled, when the trip S operates the stop motion and brings the machine to a stop. The filled box B is then removed and is replaced by another, when the operations are repeated.

The filled box 13 may have a top and end applied and is then ready for shipment.

Instead of brushes J and K other frictionsurfaces may be used.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as'follows:

1. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination with feeding devices adapted to feed the boxes and deliver themin an upright position, and a frame for receiving the boxes in an upright position when delivered by the feeding devices, provided with a projection for stripping the boxes from the feeding and delivering devices and with a support for sustaining an open ended or sided box with its bottom substantially level with said frame so as to form a substantial continuation thereof, whereby the cardboard boxes may pass directly from said supporting-frame into the open end or side of the box supported thereby.

2. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination with feeding devices adapted to feed the boxes and deliver them in an upright position, a frame for receiving the boxesin an upright position when delivered by the feeding devices, provided with a projection for stripping the boxes from the feeding and delivering devices and with a support for sustaining an open ended or sided box with its bottom substantially level with the surface of said support so as to form a substantial continuation thereof, to receive the upright cardboard box from said frame, and a movable false end in the box adapted to support the cardboard boxes as they are fed into the box andto move forward therein as the box becomes filled.

3. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, the. the combination with feeding devices adapted to feed the boxes and deliver them in an upright position, a frame for receiving the boxes in an upright position when delivered by the feeding devices, provided with a support for an open ended or sided box to receive the upright cardboard box from said frame, and means located over the support for acting upon the upper edges of the cardboard boxes for maintaining them in an upright position.

t. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination with feeding devices adapted to feed the boxes and deliver them in an upright position, a frame for receiving the boxes in an upright position when delivered by the feeding devices, provided with a support for an open ended or sided box to receive the upright cardboard box IIO from said frame,and the brush K located over the support and adapted to act upon the upper edges of the cardboard boxes and maintain them in an upright position.

5. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination with feeding devices for feeding the cardboard boxes, of a frame provided with a projecting lip 1) extending into the path of the feeding devices and adapted to take the boxes therefrom, and having a depressed support in the rear of the lip b to support an open ended or sided box with its bottom substantially level with the lip Z), whereby the cardboard boxes are received on the lip b and may pass directly into the open end or side of the box supported by the frame.

6. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination of a series of feeding devices E each provided with a gripper E adapted to seize and release the cardboard boxes, a supporting-lip b projecting into the path of the feeding devices E and adapted to engage the lowermost edge of each cardboard box carried by the grippers, means for actuating the grippers to release the boxes when they are engaged by the lip 19, and a brush located above the projection b adapted to act upon the upper edge of the boxes and maintain them in an upright position.

7. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination of delivering devices for delivering long strips one at a time, feeding devices for receiving the strips from the delivering devices and moving them from a horizontal to an upright position, cutters for cutting the strips into short lengths, and a receiving support for taking the short lengths into which the strip has been cut and supporting them in an upright position, provided with a projection for stripping the boxes from the feeding devices and with a support for sustaining an open ended or sided box with its bottom on a level with said receiving-support so as to form a substantial continuation thereof, whereby the short lengths into which the strip has been cut will pass directly from said support into the box.

8. In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination of delivering devices for delivering long strips one at a time, feeding devices for receiving the strips from the delivering devices and moving them from a horizontal to an upright position, cutters for cutting the strips into short lengths, a receiving-support for taking the short lengths into which the strip has been out and supporting them in an upright position, and means located above the support and acting upon the upper edges of the short lengths for maintaining the same in an upright position.

i). In a machine for feeding cardboard boxes, &c., the combination of delivering devices for delivering long strips one at a time, feeding devices for receiving the strips from the delivering devices and moving them from a horizontal to an upright position, cutters for cutting the strips into short lengths, areceiving-frame for taking the short lengths into which the strip has been cut and supporting them in an upright position, a support for a box to receive the upright cardboard boxes, located in line with said receiving-frame, so as to support the box with its bottom on a level with the receiving-frame so as to form a substantial continuation thereof, and provided with a projection for stripping the boxes from the feeding devices and a movable false end in said box adapted to move forward therein as the cardboard boxes are introduced.

10. In a feeding-machine, the combination with feeding devices for feeding and delivering the articles, boxing devices for boxing the articles delivered by the feeding devices, driving mechanism for operating said feeding devices, means for throwing said driving devices out of operation, a worm driven by said feeding devices, a worm-wheel operated thereby, and a trip controlled by the Wormwheel for actuating the means for throwing the driving mechanism of the feeding devices out of operation, said parts being so timed as to stop said feeding devices when a box has been filled by the boxing devices.

11. In a feeding and boxing machine, the combination of delivering devices for delivering blanks in the form of long strips, feeding devices for taking said strips from the delivering devices, cutters for cutting said strips into short lengths, and boxing devices for receiving said short lengths from the feeding devices and delivering them into boxes.

12. In a feeding and boxing machine, the combination of devices for delivering blanks in the form of long strips, cutters for cutting said strips into a series of short lengths, feeding devices for taking said series of short lengths and delivering them simultaneously in an upright position to boxing devices, and boxing devices for receiving said series of short lengths and delivering them into boxes.

13. In a machine for feeding articles, the combination of a support for a series of said articles, a slotted guiding-table over which said articles are fed, a reciprocating frame F located under the table, means to raise and lower the frame F during its reciprocations, and a series of spring-pressed fingers F carried by the frame F and projecting through the slots in the guiding-table when the frame F is raised.

14. In a machine for feeding and boxing articles, the combination with the feeding and boxing devices, of a stop-motion timed by the feeding and boxing devices to stop the operation of the feeding devices, when a box is filled by the boxing devices.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY P. FEISTER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. L. LEHMAN, CHARLES WANIoH. 

